Protesters Demand Arrest of Retired Cop

Protesters gathered outside the Queens District Attorneys office last week to demand the arrest of John Malik, a retired police officer accused of shooting Manuel Chametla in an Astoria deli on October 18. The demonstrators, including City Councilmembers Hiram Monserrate and Margarita Lopez and the Mexican Consul General, claimed the police departments decision not to arrest Malik after the shooting of the 18-year-old Mexican immigrant was evidence of racial bias.
"Its a Mexican that was killed, and they could care less that a Mexican was killed," said Dr. Jesus Pea, the attorney for Noe Chametla, Manuel Chametlas father.
Monserrate said that while he understands "where [Brown] is coming from," he disagreed with the DAs decision. "Were here to send a very strong message that the blood of our community is very precious."
Defending their handling of the case, police said the shooting was an accident and did not warrant an arrest. Malik, a regular customer at the Astoria Food Mart on 31st Street and 21st Avenue where the shooting occurred, was an acquaintance of Manuel Chametla. Chametla had worked at the deli for two years to support a wife and young daughter who live in Mexico City. While buying a lottery ticket from Chametla, Malik claims he unintentionally discharged his gun when reaching for his pager.
Despite the DAs promise to resolve the investigation swiftly and impartially, the protesters circling the sidewalk in front of his office and toting signs that said, "No Justice, No Peace," and "Shoot Cans, Not Mexicans," were resolved to persist until an arrest is made. "We will be here, almost every day," said Pea, Chametlas lawyer. "Or well have to find some other form of civil disobedience."
E-mail this reporter at sarah@queenscourier.com